Work Works - Access Abbotsford Business Committee
In October of 2007 the Work Works sub committee undertook a project to champion employment inclusion in the Abbotsford business environment. Within this project we also liaison with the 10by10 Committee in order to work in conjunction with the job developers that were promoting employment for people with disabilities.
Together with the hired researcher for this project goals were:
- to create publicity material to raise awareness of the 10 by 10 Challenge
- To identify current award schemes and systems of recognition for business that go above and beyond
- To identify rating system to evaluate physical accessibility of businesses and to develop a program to recognize businesses that go “above and beyond”.
- To develop a tool to measure the accessibility and inclusivity of businesses
Using information gathered from other sources and experiences such as Powell River, Whistler, Victoria, and especially Accessible Tourism we were able to create a template for recognition of businesses. Once we had a start on the idea we gathered together a variety of employers, business owners and the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Business Representatives to provide feedback. This process proved to be instrumental in seeing the reality of our project.
Following that meeting we reworked the project and developed criteria that was a better representation of inclusive and accessible business practices. The four categories are:
- Physical accessibility
- Hiring of people with disabilities
- provisions of goods or services that benefit people with disabilities, including home delivery and contributions to non-profit agencies to empower people with disabilities
- Training provided to staff about disability issues
Current status:
- 10by10 challenge continues to gain momentum and exposure (133 PWD hired at the end of May 2008)
- Website launch will have a category for employers to be recognized and highlighted
- See the need to hire people with disability to be “ambassadors” of the recognition system and serve the community to find employers that are going above and beyond and to be a support to the businesses that would like to achieve that status.
- To continue to liaise and have a strategic partnership with City Hall on the issues of building permits for business that aspire to become more physically accessible, as an employer to join the 10by10 challenge, to help implement and carry out signage for accessibility etc.